THE county could be declared foot and mouth free with all restrictions lifted by the middle of next month, the Surrey Advertiser can reveal.

However, the all-clear being announced rests on no new cases being discovered and the success of a wide-ranging testing programme of animals in the 10-kilometre surveillance area around the affected farms.

Yesterday (Thursday) the European Union gave the go-ahead for UK animal and meat exports to resume.

All exports of meat and animals to EU countries was banned following the outbreak of foot and mouth at the first farm in Normandy on August 3. Since then, one other nearby farm was confirmed as having animals infected with the disease, while other livestock have been culled as a precaution. A further strong indication that the Pirbright laboratories were the source of the outbreak also came yesterday (Thursday).

Chief veterinary officer, Debby Reynolds, ordered a temporary five-kilometre protection zone to be placed around the laboratories, which are home to both government and private scientists doing tests with animals diseases.

“The temporary area is a precautionary measure where we will be working with animal keepers and vets to ensure enhanced vigilance is maintained as we await the conclusions of the Health and Safety Executive investigation and the findings of the independent review,” the chief vet said.

This week Diana Linkskey, a regional operations director with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said testing of animals in the surveillance zone would be carried out in the next fortnight.

“If all goes well we will be looking at around mid September to be able to make an announcement on being foot and mouth free,” she added. “However, this rests on no new reports of foot and mouth and it is important that we get the help of all the farmers in the surveillance zone.”

Farmers in the 10-kilometre radius area around Normandy will be contacted by Defra, although any who have not been notified by the middle of next week are asked to get in touch with the department.

With meat being exported and hopes high of Surrey being foot and mouth free soon, Defra has also announced horses can be moved in and out of a three-kilometre protection zone around the foot and mouth affected area.

Mrs Reynolds said licences needed to be applied for and precautions still taken when moving horses around the Normandy area.

“This measure is part of Defra’s ongoing risk-based and staged approach to easing movement controls,” she added. “It is critical therefore that owners comply strictly with the licence conditions on cleansing and disinfection.”

While animals can be moved to slaughter and exported to the EU, Defra still has a ban in place on livestock at markets and shows.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn MP, said the lifting of the EU ban on British exports was a huge step forward in eradicating the foot and mouth outbreak.

“This is a clear demonstration of the confidence which our European colleagues have in the disease control measures we have taken in this outbreak,” Mr Benn added.